May 2013 Unity - FEA Online!

Volume 31, Issue 2 A Publication of the Federal Education Association – Europe Area May 2013
MA+30 Back Pay Since 2001
Bill Freeman, Uniserv Director
UNITY
Graduate credit is graduate credit regardless of when it was earned. For many years,
DoDDS has been wrongfully denying graduate credit earned before the MA was earned. This
applies to MA+15 and 30. As long as the graduate credit did not count toward the Masters’
Degree, it counts toward MA+15 and 30. The typical example is cert credit that did not count
toward an MA.
Arbitrator Sands just ruled that back pay for the MA+ case will go as far back as June 4,
2001. This is exactly what we were hoping for. DoDDS also has to conduct an audit of their
entire Pay Lane Program for Europe and the Pacific and deliver it to FEA within three months.
We are taking this one step at a time. After DoDDS delivers the audit, I can compare it to all the
affidavits I have received and go from there. I do not expect much from DoDDS, so it is very
important for us to get affidavits from everyone on our own. I have more than 200 so far, and
they continue to trickle in. I am sure there are many more people out there who are owed many
thousands of dollars in back pay, interest, and TSP Lost Earnings. If they have not already done
so, they need to send me their affidavits as soon as possible. If they have sent affidavits, they
need to be patient but let me know if they change email address. Everyone needs to keep the
faith. We are going to prevail.
As you can see, I have been working this issue very hard. I plan to arbitrate as soon as
possible, but I need to take the time required to do it right. Back pay, interest, and TSP Lost
Earnings will continue to accrue. Much will depend on how hard DoDDS continues to fight. Best
case scenario, people will start receiving money next School Year. Worst case scenario is an
arbitration hearing lasting one month with 200 grievants testifying at DoDEA HQ two or three
years from now. DoDDS needs to understand that the longer they drag this out, the more it is
going to cost them.
For now, we need to do everything possible to get all of the affidavits as soon as possible.
The affidavits should be sent to me at Bfreeman@nea.org. If anyone has any questions, they can
ask me, but please be judicious. With 200 so far and many other things going on, you can
imagine how busy I am. If you sent me an affidavit and I responded, I have everything I need for
now.

Meet Ben Hunter
New European UniServ Director/General Counsel for the Bavaria
and Kaiserslautern Districts
I am excited to join FEA as the European UniServ
Director/ General Counsel for the Bavaria and
Kaiserslautern Districts. I am a strong supporter of FEA’s
mission to advocate for educators' rights and quality
education. I am fortunate to be working with an extremely
impressive and supportive legal team who has helped me
understand the issues faced by FEA at the Association level
as well as for teachers on the front lines. I very much look
forward to traveling to Europe to visit our schools and to
meet the educators that make up the Association.
I have lived in Washington, DC since 2007 and will
be working out of the FEA national office. I chose to
become a lawyer to pursue a legal career fighting for social justice. While attending American
University Washington College of Law, I developed an interest in labor law working as a law
clerk for the Service Employees International Union and as a legal intern for the Department of
Labor. I represented multiple community organizations while working in the school’s
Community and Economic Development Law Clinic. Before beginning law school, I worked for
a national nonprofit dedicated to preserving affordable housing by providing free home
rehabilitation services to those in need.
Growing up as the son of two public employees in Lancaster, PA, I have always felt very
connected to the issues that our members confront. My father is a retired postal worker, and my
mother was a career educator and an active member of the NEA. I understand the anxiety those
who have chosen careers serving the public face during the current budget crises. I am
committed to being a valuable resource for the European leadership and our members during
these times of change and great uncertainty.
I promise be a zealous advocate for our members and to protect educators’ rights under
the law and our Negotiated Agreement. I look forward to serving you!
Students from AF North Elementary celebrate
the 100 th day with CUPCAKES!

Time to Think
By Lisa Ali, FEA European Area Director
This is the time of year that I always pause to reflect on the
past year, and wonder where the time has gone and what do I have to
show for it. All too often I end up feeling that the answer to the first
part of the question is, “I really don’t know,” and the answer to second
part is, “nothing.” However, in reality, that couldn’t be farther from
the truth. Let’s look back and take a look at some of the major events
of the past year.
We began the school year with a whirlwind of FRS Trainings, followed by our fall European
Advisory Council (EAC) meetings, ending with an FEA Association Day in the United Kingdom. Our
FRSs and FRS engaged in two days of contract training, as well as Pre-Decisional Involvement training
with their administrators. This was DoDEA mandated training, conducted by an expert from the States--
-training which will be valuable, if/when ALL parties commit to putting it into practice. Right now predecisional
involvement seems to be in its early stages; some schools are barely in the “taking baby
steps” stage, while others are still newborns, with some schools being well on their way to
implementation. The contract trainings went well. We continue to learn from each other at these
trainings and this is a good time for FRSs to meet and hear what concerns others schools have---often
we find there are many the same. The EAC meetings are the time during which the European Council
meets to discuss plans for the year, including budget planning, elections, HCR trainings, etc. The UK
hosted Association Day this year---the first held in the UK in several years. It was well-attended, with
folks coming from Germany to attend, as well as numerous UK teachers. And, this was all in the month
of September.
October/November/December saw us begin discussions on the excessing procedures in
preparation for the Heidelberg Schools closure in June. We knew from the outset that there would be at
least 150 excess teachers in Europe who needed placement, a number which rapidly swelled to well over
200, with the drawdown in Schweinfurt/Bamberg. We are definitely in a state of flux here in Europe,
and this was just the beginning of another drawdown. Next year will see the closure of the
Schweinfurt/Bamberg schools, as well as Lajes. Hopefully the lessons learned this year from the current
excess teacher placement program problems, will ensure that we don’t suffer the same mistakes again
next year. In January/February, the reality of the drawdown hit home with the issuance of Staffing
Documents for School Year 2013-2014. Headquarters announced excess teacher placement procedures,
completely disregarding input from Europe, and so it began.
March, April, and May saw the excess teacher placement program almost disintegrate into chaos,
as the hustle to match teachers to vacancies, with or without VSIPs, with or without regard to SCDs,
with or without regard to teaching categories, basically, with or without regard for much of anything. At
times it almost seems as if it was a case of “make it up as we go along.” However, everyone persevered,
and at this point, it appears as though every excess teacher has received a placement of some sort.
Reconsideration is still ongoing, so there may still be some movement.
Now it is almost June and I’m wondering what the future holds. Many of you are in the midst of
orders requests, pack-out dates, housing issues, lease terminations, RAT, visas, the list is endless. I wish

I had words of wisdom to share---but I’m all out---it has been a long year. I’m still looking for a funny
quote to share and am just hoping for something to pop into my head. However, there is now, and
always has been, one constant in this situation: DoDEA teachers are top-notch. They go through
unimaginable horrors, having their entire lives disrupted, with no idea or guarantee as to what the future
holds, yet they continue to show up for work each day and do the job they are there to do, to the best of
their ability---they educate pre-schoolers, children, teenagers, and young adults---even Middle Schoolers
, and they do so with smiles on their faces, even though it isn’t always easy.
So, wherever you are next year, please know that you have the appreciation of all of us in FEA,
for your job well-done, and with true thankfulness of the support you have given each other through
these tying times. For some of us this is an ending, but for all of us this is a new beginning.
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." ~ Robert Frost
DoDDS-E Honors Music Festival
To many, the idea of spending 130 hours in a row on duty
in a hostel with 140 high schoolers, does not sound like an ideal
way to spend a beautiful spring week. But that is what Netzaberg
Middle School teacher, former FEA Human and Civil Rights
Coordinator, and NEA Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Caucus Director,
Alina Rozanski (pictured left) did along with 20+ music teachers
to provide an amazing opportunity for approximately 60
instrumentalists and 80 vocalists from across DoDDS Europe high
schools to learn from two of America’s leading conductors. This
year’s conductors were Dr. Geoffery Boers (Director of Choral
Activities, U of WA- pictured with Alina) and Dr. Stephen
Peterson (Director of Bands, Ithaca College, NY)
Working as the Choral Lead for the festival this year, Alina witnessed critical staff inside the
rehearsal spaces at every opportunity, gleaning as much professional development as they could,
watching masters of the conducting craft at work. Teachers being teachers, they take every opportunity
to collaborate, making the Honors festival one of the few opportunities that music teachers have to
dialogue with each other, and as typical DoDEA teachers they couldn’t stop learning or talking shop at
every opportunity!
On April 25 th , the students took the stage at the Wiesbaden Kurhaus in Germany, performing for
an audience in the seats in front of them as well as watching live online around the world (see it here:
http://www.doddshost.net/). It was a huge success thanks to the leadership of our guests, the hard work
of the students on stage, and the dedication of the teachers constantly working in the background, both at
the festival and back at their home school. FEA member and Honors Dean of Men, Butch Wilcher,
reflected, “Honors is a great week of music making - a week that a family is created that includes music
students, music teachers and our guest conductors. I dare say that there are not many organizations
outside of the performing arts that experience what we experience in this week.”

NEA President Dennis van Roekel
visits Bavaria and Kaiserslautern
Both districts were pleased to be able to welcome NEA
President Dennis van Roekel to their area. Receptions were
held on April 16 in Bavaria and April 17 in Kaiserslautern.
The photo to the left is that of Kaiserslautern District
Representative Terese Sarno with President van Roekel.
Executive Director and General Counsel, HT Nguyen is
pictured in the background.
The FRS Plant: Its Care and Feeding
(reprinted from October 1998 with slight editing)
A delightful addition to any well-tended DoDDS school, the FRS plant (representicus feaensis) is
remarkable for its hardiness in almost any climate anywhere in the world. While it habitually survives
despite the worst abuse, the FRS plant blossoms spectacularly in warm and sunny schools that are
sufficiently ventilated with information, feedback and assistance from the other inhabitants. Even where
the soil has been neglected for years and has become dominated by a pernicious weed and prolonged
frosts, the FRS plant can continue to make a heartening show for many school years. In fact, it has been
known to reach limitless heights under the most adverse soil and climate conditions if given proper
treatment by cultivators. Its beneficial effects on the atmosphere are well known to observers around the
world.
The FRS plant benefits from regular feedings of helpful criticism and praise year round with two
extra buckets full of sincere thank you’s applied in late spring. Some cultivators report great success
with heavier applications of this valuable inducement to flowering.
They have been known to transplant well from one school garden to another, and then often
bring benefits previously unknown to the new site. Sometimes, after long periods of severe use, FRS
plants are revived by a few years in a cooler greenhouse, thus preventing terminal “burn out.”
Alternatively, some of the sturdier plants can be put immediately into full service at a higher level where
the growth they have made at grass-roots level serves everyone.
The fruits of the FRS plant can appear at any time, even in the summer when school is closed.
While not usually very large or showy, they are extremely sweet. However, under harsh growing
conditions, this fruit is produced at great cost to the health and mental stability of the plant. At such
times, cultivators are advised to apply heavy doses of special nutrients such as congratulatory cards,
invitations to dinner, faculty-wide hip-hip-hoorays, and victory bonfires. This treatment is also known
to reverse simple depressions caused when fruits fail to ripen when expected.
The best varieties, properly tended, are self-propagating. Normally, this robust plant shows new
shoots from the old roots by April or May. On rare occasions, new sprouts appear only after long cool
periods in august or early September. But, with careful training from experienced hands, they soon
catch up with specimens that have been giants in the garden for many years.

But a note of caution: FRS Plant is prone to suckering from trivial, frivolous, or selfish issues
dropped on them by other garden inhabitants. As this sapping of energy, if left untended, can debilitate
every plant in the school garden, suckers should be removed at the root with a sharp knife as soon as
they appear.
In some areas, the FRS plant is known as Quercus minisculus, or simply “little oak” because of
its noteworthy strength and endurance in supporting the superstructure of FEA.
A healthy FRS plant is a “must have” for serious school gardeners.
My sincere thanks to all who have been, or currently are, the FRS plant. You are very much
appreciated! Submitted by Isles District Representative, Anita Lang
Heidelberg Schools Closing Ceremony Information
Heidelberg High School -- 31 May at 12:00
Heidelberg Middle School -- 5 June at 10:30
Patrick Henry Elementary School -- 6 June at 10:00
NEA Representative Assembly 2013
Congratulations to the following teachers for being chosen to represent FEA
Europe as our State delegates at this summer’s annual NEA Representative Assembly:
Noemi (Mimi) Cuadrado
Chuck McCarter
Nancy Almendras
Virginia (Gini) Dugan
Anita Lang
Lahoma Hendrix
Sennie Smith
These seven people, along with several local representatives from each district,
will attend the Representative Assembly, being held 01-06 July in Atlanta Georgia. As
well, they will attend the annual FEA General Membership Meeting, held 30 June-01
July in the same location.
If you plan to be in the Atlanta area this summer, you are welcome to attend the
FEA General Membership Meeting as well. For more information regarding location,
times, etc., please contact the FEA Washington office. For more information regarding
NEA’s Representative Assembly, go to the following website.
http://www.nea.org/grants/33252.htm.

FEA Europe - Fall FRS/FR Trainings
FEA Europe will conduct four fall trainings for FRSs/FRs in Europe. For planning
purposes basic information regarding dates and locations are listed below. Complete
information will be sent to all participants once final arrangements have been made.
Thank you for your willingness to serve our members and we look forward to seeing you
in the fall.
Date Schools Location & Contact Person
09/13/13 Ansbach ES
Ansbach M/HS
Illesheim ES
Rainbow ES
Grafenwoehr ES
Bamberg ES
Bamberg M/HS
Garmisch E/MS
Netzaberg ES
09/16/13 Ramstein ES
Ramstein HS
Ramstein IS
Ramstein MS
Kaiserslautern ES
Kaiserslautern HS
Kaiserslautern MS
Sembach ES
Sembach MS
09/17/13 Aukamm ES
Hainerberg ES
Wiesbaden HS
Wiesbaden MS
Patch ES
Patch HS
Robinson Barracks
E/MS
09/23/13 Lakenheath ES
Lakenheath HS
Lakenheath MS
Liberty IS
Feltwell ES
Netzaberg MS
Vilseck ES
Vilseck HS
Hohenfels ES
Hohenfels M/HS
Schweinfurt ES
Schweinfurt MS
Schweinfurt HS
Smith ES
Wetzel ES
Baumholder M/HS
Landsthul E/MS
Volgeweh ES
Spangdahlem ES
Spangdahlem MS
Bitburg ES
Bitburg M/HS
Boeblingen E/MS
Brussels E/HS
SHAPE ES
SHAPE HS
AFNORTH ES
AFNORTH HS
Kleine Brogel ES
Menwith Hill E/HS
Alconbury ES
Alconbury M/HS
Croughton ES
Ansbach
Terry McClain
FCK Stadium Kaiserslautern
Terese Sarno
Wiesbaden Recreation Center
Nancy Almendras
Bldg. 58
RAF Feltwell
Anita Lang
*If you have any questions please refer to the contact person listed for your school’s training.

Read Across
America
Our European schools had
a great time celebrating
Read Across America.
The following is just a
sample of how students,
teachers, parents and
administration came
together for a day dedicated
to the celebration of
Reading.
If you never did, you
should. These things are fun
and fun is good.‐‐‐Dr. Seuss

Menwith Hill
In celebration of Read Across America, Menwith Hill EHS Elementary and
Middles School students Read their way Around the World. Sponsored by their
incredible PTO, students tabulated the number of minutes that they read every
night, adding it to the school total every morning. The goal was nothing less than
reading as many minutes in a week as there are miles around the Earth at the
equator. Reading more than 24,000 minutes in a week was an incredible
challenge for one of DODEA’s smallest schools.
In addition to "Reading Around the World" the elementary students from
Menwith Hill use Read Across America as their own spirit week! Each day
students had a different Dr. Seuss themed dress up day.
The fun days for this year were as follows:
Monday - Crazy Hair Day
Tuesday - Grinchy Green Day
Wednesday - Twin Day
Thursday - Wacky Socks Day
Friday - Pajama Day - Curl Up with a good book!
The Middle and High School students at this unit school joined in too! The
National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society students teamed
up to host a Green Eggs and Ham breakfast on Friday, March 1st. The Middle
and High School students spent hours preparing breakfast, with real green eggs
with chunks of ham and juice for every elementary student. Parents were invited
to attend the breakfast and eat with their child. After the breakfast parents and
community members came into classrooms and volunteered to read favorite
books aloud to students! For such a small school, Menwith Hill has a LOT going
on! That is why they truly are: "The Little School that Can!"

Lakenheath Middle School
This year the theme for Read Across America Day at Lakenheath Middle School
was "The 500 Hats of LMS" celebrating the 75th anniversary of Dr. Seuss' "The
500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins". For days leading up to March 1st students
created hats in the library, in classrooms and at home. On the Friday Guest
Readers from the community shared favorite Dr. Seuss books and during
Seminar students and staff wearing their hats were invited to the library to enjoy
a piece of cake (compliments of the PTO) and to participate in other Dr. Seuss
activities. For more pictures of the day go to: http://www.lakems.eu.dodea.edu/
and
http://www.lake-ms.eu.dodea.edu/HTML/library.htm

Patch Elementary School
“Grab Your Hat and Read With The Cat!”
Friday, March 1 st was a wonderful day.
What did we do? Did we just play?
No, we read books and lots of people came.
They read to us - even better than a game!
And that’s what we did here at Patch Elementary on Friday, March 1 st as we celebrated Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
in style with the National Education Association’s signature program, Read Across America. PES also
hosted some wonderful guest readers: COL Stack, CSM Smalls, Ms. Cole, Mr. Steve Sanchez, Ms. Joyce
Frey, Chief Barney, PO1 Rachel Lord, Mr. Mike Goldberg, SFC Brazelton, SFC Cooper, SPC Gordon,
SSG Fields, MSG Trout, CPT Kathleen Browne, Ms. Toni Nichols, Ms. Priscilla Maxwell, Ms. Anna
Shuhart, Mr. Cliff Kent, HS Ambassadors: Christine Young, Lexi Pache, Maddie Jones, Sophia
Huebschman, Sharmaine Poblette, Sebastian Berven, and many, many parents! The Cat in The Hat joined
us along with Thing 1 and Thing 2. Student Council sponsored “Hat Day” - in keeping with the theme - and
teachers in red and white striped top hats helped create a festive mood. Patch High School drama students
performed Reader’s Theatre presentations of Dr. Seuss books. PHS JROTC helped with distributing
pencils, bookmarks and cupcakes to our 650+ students! Colorful banners were painted by the PHS National
Art Honor Society. And beautifully decorated cupcakes were donated by PTA volunteers for all students,
faculty and staff. A Huge Cat In The Hat THANK YOU to everyone who participated!

AF North Elementary School
celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day with their teacher, Ms. Rita Fino.
Scholarships
The Lakenheath Education Association held its annual auction of goods and services. Led by FRS and
auctioneer extraordinaire, Becky Eversman, a small group of dedicated Lakenheath teachers from all
five schools in the complex managed to raise over $6000 for scholarships for future educators and
children of members. Well done TEAM LEA!

NEA HCR Courses come to Europe
The Isles and Kaiserslautern districts hosted an NEA Human and Civil Rights course early in May. The
topic was Bullying Prevention and Intervention with a short session on Social Justice. It was well
attended by teachers, counselors, and nurses from all around the areas. Thanks go to Mimi Cuadrado,
HCR Coordinator for FEA and Linda Ware-Brown, European HCR, for arranging the program with
NEA, and Estelle Brown, Isles District HCR Coordinator, and Reyhan Dickinson, Kaiserslautern
District HCR for organizing this for members.
Estelle Brown with NEA presenters
Phillip Johnson and Cadre leader
Joann Morris.
FEA Europe Says Thank You
FEA Europe would like to say THANK YOU to Linda Shahan. Linda has served
as the FEA Europe Membership Processor for the past several years. With the
closure of Heidelberg, Linda and her husband Brad will be moving on to the
balmy weather of Puerto Rico to begin a new chapter in their DoDDS career.
Please join the European Advisory Council (EAC) in wishing both of them all the
best in their new assignments. They will be missed in DoDDS-Europe.

Changing or Cancelling Dues Deductions
FEA members who want to change their method of dues payment for the next
school year, SY 2013-2014, must do so by September 1, 2013. The payroll dues
deductions continue annually unless the finance office receives word from the
member to halt it. If you are transferring to ANY DoDDS school in Europe, Cuba,
the Mediterranean of the Pacific, OR you are going on leave with full pay, your
deductions will continue. The Association cannot stop any deductions on behalf of
members just as it cannot begin deductions for a member.
FEA members who wish to halt their payroll dues deductions for the next
school year must submit a Cancellation of Payroll Deductions for Labor
Organization Dues, Form SF 1188 (available from your personnel contact, or a
formal written letter of explanation, including Social Security Number to Linda
Shahan, FEA Europe Membership Processor, with a copy to their DoDDS Customer
Service Representative at the Area Office, by September 1, 2013. Please send by email,
via digital sender, or regular mail to:
Linda Shahan
CMR 419, BOX 1566
APO AE 09102
Email: Linda.Shahan@eu.dodea.edu
After 14 June, 2013, all documents should be sent to John Crowe, FEA Europe
Membership Processor, with a copy to the appropriate Customer Service
Representative. John’s contact information is listed below.
John Crowe
PSC 41 BOX 3723
APO AE 09464
Email: John.Crowe@eu.dodea.edu

Welcome…
to our new FEA Europe Membership Processor
John Crowe
John is currently based at Feltwell Elementary School as the Information Specialist,
having moved to Feltwell from Menwith Hill two years ago. He has previously served
as both an FRS and FR and has always been an active union member. We are lucky to
have someone with John’s capabilities joining our team in FEA Europe.
The UNITY is a publication of the Federal Education Association,
European Area.
Address inquiries to:
Lisa Ali
FEA Europe Area Director
PSC 41 BOX 5569
APO AE 09464